Lorraine Beatrice Gillespie

Lorraine Beatrice Gillespie, 99, passed away peacefully on Thursday April 25, 2024. She was born November 3, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois. She was the loving wife to Harold Edward Gillespie who passed in 1979.  Lorraine will be deeply missed by her children Gary (Doris) Gillespie of Hoffman Estates, Illinois’, Dennis Gillespie and girlfriend Susan of Waxhaw, North Carolina, and Janet (Tom) Seno of Antioch Illinois, her grandchildren Melissa, Christa, Andrew (Kaline), Michael (Casey), and Julie Gillespie ,  Jenny (Dee) Sinclair and Bryanna (Shane) Loughney . Great grandchildren Natalie, Nathan, Joshua, Edward, Jane, Adelie, Jozzie, Kailynn and Claudia. Lorraine is predeceased by her parents Charles and Harriet Birkemo, brother Charles Birkemo, and daughter in law Jane Gillespie.

Lorraine and Harold opened Gillespie’s Franklin Park Travel Agency in 1965. For many years they had organized and hosted   escorted trips to Hawaii, back when few had traveled there. They had a loyal following, with many participants traveling with them on the annual tours again and again. They also organized group cruises and European trips. Lorraine continued in the travel business (and traveling) after Harold passed. She traveled throughout the world, and on her travels met lifelong friends from across the world.  She was an active member of ASTA, the travel agency association, and was a board member for many years.

She loved to golf, travel, read, play wordle, and watch the Cubs. Her family brought her tremendous joy and love throughout the years. They had fun visiting, playing cards and hearing about her travel adventures.  In recent years, she enjoyed winter stays in Waxhaw, NC and summer visits to Green Lake, WI.